Ironing press and workholder



Aug. 20, 1935. P. N. BRAUN IRONING PRESS AND WORKHOLDER 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Original Filed Feb. 26, 1930 IN VEN TOR F11 1'lg'pMBr fl B Y K Aug. 20, 1935. P. N. BRAUN 2,011,560

IRONING PRESS AND WORKHOLDER Original Filed Feb. 26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE E FIE E INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS Patented Aug. 24), 1935 ears NT. OFFICE 2,011,560 IRONING rnsss AND woanrrowna Philip N. Braun, Syracuse, N. assignor to The Prosperity Company, Inc, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York I Application February 26, 1930, Serial No. 431,572

' Renewed August 22, 1933 16 Claims.

This invention relates to garment or ironing presses and particularly to work holders therefor.

An object is to produce a work holder which is particularly simple and economical in construction, easily operable, readily applied to a pressing machine, and highly efiicient in use. Y

One of the particular objects of the invention is means by which the. work holder is automatically released as the press goes under pressure and automatically returned to its inoperative position when the press opens. I Another object isa work holder including a comparatively stiff but resilient flexible band material, so that it is readily moved into and out of operative or clamping position and readily unlocked by the closing of the press.

Another object is the supporting of the work holder in a particularly compact manner so that it returns automatically to its inoperative or non-clamping position when released.

The invention consists the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is 'a side elevation of a pressing machine embodying my invention, showing the .frontendof the clamp band unreleased in full lines by the press closing action and locked in 'clamping position infull lines prior to closing of the press.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of the work holder and guide therefor detached from the press. 1

Figure 3 is a side view partly in section of parts seen in Figure 2. l

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of the catch for holding the work holder in its operative position. g

This invention comprises generally a flexible ribbon or band work holderjmember movable from its normal non-clamping orinoperative position into an operative or clamping position over the lower pressing element or jaw of the press- I ing machine to hold the workthereon, and means (o1. sa-9) in a standard type of garment pressing machine it which in turn is mounted upon any suitable frame designated generally '5. The head 3 is carried by a forwardly and rearwardly extending lever 23 pivoted between its ends at l to an upright 8 rising from .the frame. a

In'the machine here illustrated, the head 3 is power actuated and the power mechanism comprises a cylinder 9 having a piston therein, the motion of the piston being transmitted to the head 3 through any suitable motion transmitting mechanism. This mechanism in addition to the lever 6 and the piston rod It comprises an angle lever H pivoted at 12 at its angle to the base of the frame and having a forwardly extending ar pivoted at E3 to the piston rod, and an upwardly extending arm pivotedat M to the lower end ofcounter-springs El and I8.

y The flow of'motive fluid, as compressed air, to the cylinder 5 is controlled by any suitable valve means not forming part'of this invention, this means including a push button I9. Theexhaust of the fluid'from the cylinder to permit the press to open is controlled by any suitable valve means operated by'a trip level '20. For the purposes of this invention, a description of the control means is unnecessary. It is sufficient to'bear in mind that upon the depression of the push button I9 motive fluid as: compressed air' will flow to the cylinder sand actuate the piston therein to'close the press and hold it closed, and that to open the press it is merely necessary; to operate the trip lever as to permit the motive fluid to exv member movableinto a position over the buck'l and into"engagement with the work thereon, it

side to; the front side thereof. This work holder is preferably a tape 2| of resilient material or metal, it being comparatively stiff and capable ofbeing tensioned when bowed: so that it will spring back towards straightened position when released, and also stiff enough to hold itself extended without folding. v a V j f Means is provided which tends to return the I work holder to its normal position when not held from returning to its normal positionfand also means is provided for holding it in itsfoperative .or'extended position. The former means is pref erably, a weight 22 movable along a downwardly extending" guide, this guide being inclined out'of a vertical line, the weight being secured to the rear end of the work holder or tape, 2 As here 7 illustrated, ;the tape is normally arranged in a scabbard orhousing 23 formed with a slot 24 in one side thereof, and the weight moves along one side'of ithe scabbard and the slot, and is secured to the rear end of the tape 2 I by means of screws v 25 extending through .the slot. The slot 24 and the side of the scabbard in which it is" formed,

' constitutea guide for the weight.

Means'is also provided fortensioning or pulling the tape rearwardly to hold it engaged with the catch to be-described. This means is here shown as a spring pressed buffer or plunger 26 arranged to'engage the weight 22 when it ape proaches' t he end of its upward movement and compresses the spring during th'e'latterpart of the upward movement. 1 The buffer is here shown as movable in a tubular housing 21 and its spring 28 is also located in said housing. -The housing is carried by a bracket 29 secured to the frame 5,

and this bracket also supports th housing or V I scabbard 23. V

; The means for-holding the work holder or tape in its operative position until the head closes, is

here shown as acatch 30Iprovided with an open ended slot or notch 3| for receiving the front end portion of the, tape 2|. The, front end portion of" the. tape is provided with a shoulder orhead 32 on a handle 33. The catch 30 is supported below the level of the face of the buck I, or the padding 2 thereon, so as to require the front end portion of the work holder which overhangsthe buck' 2 to be flexed out of the natural course of the work holder or bowed in order to beengaged'in the notch 3| with the shoulder 32 underlying the, catch 39.7;When in'this position, theweight' 22 has compressed thebuifer spring 28 and hence,

this spring tends to pull the head or.;.shoulderf32 against the lower side o'f the: catch .36 and hold the work holder in its operated'position. Also, this catch 30'is so located and the, upper end of the scabbard 23 is so located relatively to the surface ofthe buck or the, padding 2 thereon, that the work-holder or band 2| bows upwardly when pulled into engagement with the work on thebuck and hence, is under tension tending to straighten itself, but the friction'between the shoulder 32 and the catch .3|l is suflicientto prevent the'work holder from reacting anddis'engaging itselfjfrom thecatch 3|]. When however, the press comes.

under pressure and applies pressure'to the bowed work holder 2|-, thework holder is further tensioned and the downturned front 7 end portion moved slightly downward so that it disengages from the catch 38 and'moves from the dotted line position to the full lineposition, Figure 11.

I Now it is.apparentthat the clamping band 2| will perform every clamping function whenflexi ble or pliable and lacking resiliency but such pliable band willnot release the locking means,

formed by the interengaging shoul der 32 and the catch 30, when the press head or movable jaw 3- engages the stationary jaw 2, or particularly When the movable jaw engages and presses the band downwardly. It is desirable to have means i which releases the locking means when the movable jaw 3 engages the stationary jaw 2, or particularly when themovable jaw 3 engages the clamping band 2|. -Now a resilient band when .bowed'over 'the stationary jaw and locked or .latched at one end-will be moresharply bowed when the movable jaw 3 presses downwardly thereupon and the end of the'b'and will be-moved downwardly as the pad upon the stationary jaw. is pressed downwardly under jaw pressure. It is this sharper bowing and movement of the resilient band by the movable jaw 3 which releases the locking or latching means irrespective of its function as a clamping band;

It is for the above reason that the clamping band 2| is made resilient, which resiliency gives the band the further'capability and function of releasing the locking means so that when the press opens, the weight 22' will pull the clamping band to its retracted or inoperativeposition in back of the stationary jaw or press.

clamping and releasing.., .This'is' the preferred form of releasing means because it"functions in the desired manner and at the desired time and The clamping band has, therefore, the double function of 1 is particularly preferred because it is simple in requiring only that the clampingband 2| be made resilient or of resilient material so that the releasing operation is obtained. The movable jaw' 3 therefore cooperates" with the resilient band 2| to releasethe lockingmeans when the movable jawengages the band or the stationary jaw.i 7 ,Upon opening of the press', the weight 22 returns the work holder to its normal position in the scabbard 2 3." The weight is provided with a F suitable adjusting screw 34 for ooacting with the buffer 26 or the stem thereof, this being initially V adjusted to coact most efficiently with the buffer 3 In operation, assuming the press is'op'en, the operator lays the work on the compressible padding on the buck I andreaches over thebuck and takes hold of the handle133f of the'work holder,

pulls the work holder out of the scabbard, and

engages the front portion thereof in'the notch 3| of the catch. 30. During this movement, the

weight 22 is moved upwardly and compresses the I buffer spring 29. The reaction of the buffer spring holds the front end-of the tape2| in the:

. notch 3|; Upon closing of the press, as by depressing thepushbutto n 9, the head 3 closes downfon thework and the work liolder'and causes'thebowed portion to flatten and also "moves the front end downwardly slightly and, causes it to disengage from the catch 30. When the press is openedby operating the trip lever H ments adapted to close on the work,.. a work holderjnormally out of operative-position rela'-- tively to the "lower pressing element and movable into a position over said element to hold the work thereon, the work holder'bing' of a resilient materialtensioned to spring away from the lowerelement when in operative position, means carrying one end of the work-holder, the

other end being free, hook means coacting with the free end for holding it inoperative position,

said hook means beinglocatedin such position that the free end portionof the work holder is bowed away from the lower ressing element when engaged with said hook means, so that when pressure is applied by the movable elementto the work holder, thework holder flexes and tends to spring back to its normal position and thereby become released from the hook means, and means for returning the work holder to itsjnormal position when the press opens.

2. A pressing machine comprising, in combination, coacting upper and lower pressing elements adapted to close on the work, a work-holder normally out of operative positionand movable into an operative position over the lower element and into engagement with the work thereornthe work "holder being a resilient strip, means carrying one end of the work holder, the other end being free, the work holder being located relatively to the flower .element to bow upwardly when in operative position, a catch for engaging the free end of. the work holder when in .operative position, said catch being located in such position that the work holder must be flexed to engage therewith, the engaging portion of the catch being located so that when the press goes under pressure and the bow of the work holder tends to straighten, the free end thereof will release from the catch.

3. A pressing machine comprising, in combination, coacting upper'and lower pressing ele ments adapted to close on the work, a work holder normally out of operative position and movable into an operative position over the lower element and into engagement with the work thereon, the work holder being aresilient strip, means carrying one end of the work holder, theother end being free, the .work holder being located relatively to the lower element to bow upwardly when in operative positiorna. catch for engaging the free end of the work holder when in operative position, said catch being located in such position that the work holder must be flexed to engage therewith, the engaging portion of the catch being located so that when the press goes under pressure and the bow of thework holder tends to straighten, the free end thereof will re" lease fromthe catch, and means for returning the work holder to its normal position during. the opening of the press. I

. 4. A pressing ,machine comprising, in combination, coacting upper and lower pressing elements adapted to close on the work, a work holder normally arranged in inoperative position and movable into a position over the lower element to engage the work and hold the same on the lower element, means normally holding the work holder in inoperative position, the work holder.

being a resilient strip, means carrying the work holder at one end, the other end being free, a head at the free end of the strip, and a catch having a notch arranged to receive the free end of the strip with the head engagedwith the.

movable into a position over, the lower element to engage the work thereon, the slide tending to move downwardly along, the guide toreturn the work holder to its inoperative position behind the lower pressing element. i

6. A pressing machine comprising, in combination, coacting upper and lower pressing elee ments adapted to close on the work, a downwardly extending guide located behind the lower element and having its upper end located near the level of the lower element, a weighted slide movable along'the guide,- a work holder slidably mounted on the guide and including astiff resilient strip connected at one end to the weighted slide and having its other end free and movable into a position over the lower element to engage the work thereon, the slide tending to move downwardly along the guide to return the work holder tolits inoperative position behind the lower pressing element, and a catch located in front of the lower pressing element and arranged to engage the free end of the work holder to hold the work holder in its operative position.

'7. A pressing machine'comprising, in combiner tion, coacting upper and lower pressing elements adapted to close on the work, a downwardly extending guide having its upper end located near the level of the lower element, a weighted slide movable along the guide, a, work holder consisting of a stifi resilient strip connected at one end to the slide and having its other end free and movable into a position over the lower element to engage the work thereon, the slide tending to return the work holder to its inoperative position,

a catch arranged to coact with the free end of v the work holder to hold the work holder in its sure, and a spring pressed bufier arranged in the path of the slide to be engaged therewith when the slide approaches theend of its movement to+ ward the upper end of the guide.

8. A pressing machine comprising, in combi" tion, coacting upper and lower pressing eleme adapted to close on the work, a movable weighted member, a work holder consisting of a silient strip conn cted at one end o the weighted member, and having its other end 2 cc, the strip being movable into a position over lower ole-- to engage the work thereon, t e weighted men'iber,tendin' return the work holder to its inoperative position, and upwardly sloping guide -means in which the strip and weighted member slide.

. 9. A pressing machine comprising, in combination, coacting upper and lower pressing elements adapted to close on the work, a movable weighted member, a work :holder consisting of a stiff resilient strip connected at one end to the weighted member and having its other end free, the strip being movable into a position over the lower element to engage the work thereon, the weighted member tending to return the. work holder to its inoperative position, and a spring pressed buiier arranged to en.

gage the weighted member when saidweighted member approaches the end of its upward move ment.

10. An ironing press and work holder, comprising in combination, a frame, coacting press jaws thereon, a clamp band depending downwardly its full length at the rear of the frame and yielding means retaining the band in such position when not in use, said band being movable forwardly between theja'wsand bendable to a conform to the coactingjaw surfaces, frictional catch means at the front of the press to which the front end of band is attached and. friction- -5 allyheld by the yielding means preliminarily to closing thepress, and spring means inherently provided in the front end of the band tending to disengage the catch means, whereby the closing action of the press loosens the frictional catch means. j I

11. A pressing machine comprising, in combination, cooperating press jaws adapted to close upon the work, work holder mechanism including fa clamp band adapted'to holdthe work to be ironed on one jawand possessing inherent resiliency and tensioned to normally'spring away I from the jaw and being movable from non clamping position into clamping engagement with the epress jaw to hold the work thereon, catch means for jholding the clamp band at its free end in clamping engagement while the press is open ineluding a handle upon the band which engages a catch upon the machine, the catch means being released due to the inherent resiliency of the clampband by'thelclosing action of the press in tightening down on the clamp band, and means to automatically, retract the clamp band from between the press jaws when the press opens.

12. A garment or ironing press comprising, co-

' operating press jaws including a stationary jaw and a movable. jaw, a yieldable pad on the sta- I I 40 clamp band and upon the press to latch the clamp bandin' position over the stationary jaw, said latching means being automatically releasable a upon compression of theyieldable pad by the movable jaw. 1

' l3. A-garment or ironing press comprising, co-

1 operating press jaws including a yieldable sta- V tionary jaw and a movable jaw, actuating means for the movable jaw, a work holder, includ n a clamp band means movable overthe stationary jaw into clamping position andaway therefrom to inoperative position, means connected with one end of the clamp band means to return the latter to inoperative position, latching means including interengaging members on the otherendthe movable jaw.-

of the clamp band and upon the press to latch the clamp band means in position over the stationary jaw, said, latching means being automatically releasable upon yielding of .theyieldable jaw by the movablejaw, 5 V

14. A garment or ironing press comprising, co-

operating press jaws including a yieldablesta-i tionary jaw and a movable jaw, actuatingfme'ans for the movable jaw, a work holdel'yindllding 'a flexible clamp band means vmovable over the stationary jaw into clamping position andfaway therefrom to inoperative position, means con 1 nected with one end of the flexibleiclamp band means to return the latter toinoperative position, latching "means. including interengaging' members onv the other end of'the flexible clamp band means and upon the press for latching the clamp band means in position over the stationary jaw, said latchingmeans being automatically 1 releasable upon yielding" of the yieldable jaw by 15. A work holder for a garment or ironingv press having a movable press jaw cooperating with a yieldable stationary press jaw comprisinga clamp band of resilient material movable over the stationary jaw into a bowed clamping positicn and away therefrom to inoperative position,

means connected with one end of the resilient hand to return the latter to inoperative position,

I latching means including interengag'ing members on the other end of the resilient band and upon the press for latching the, clamp band in position over the stationary jaw, one of said interengaging members being a hook andthe other 7 being a hook engagingmeans," the resilient clamp band being engaged by the movable press jaw and ,moving one of said interengaging members rel- V atively to the other when the yieldable' jaw is engaged by the movable jaw thereby releasing the latching means.

16. A work holder for agarment or ironing press having a movable press jaw cooperating with a yieldable stationary press jaw comprising, a clampband movable over the stationary jaw into clamping position and away therefrom to inoperative position, means connected with oneend'of the clamp. band to return the latter. to inopere ative position, latching means including interengaging members on-the other end of the clamp band and upon the press tolatch the clamp band in position over the stationary jaw, said latching means beingautomatically releasable upon yield:

ing of the yieldable jaw by the movable jaw.

' PHILIP N. BRAUN. 

